The university decided to fund the team "rather than allow the taxpayer to bear the cost".

A spokesman said "young people in university towns and cities are often seen as a soft target for criminals" and the pilot programme would "enhance the safety of our 13,000 students for... less than £20 each per year".

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The University of Northampton has transformed wasteland by the River Nene into a base for 12,000 of its students

About 12,000 of the university's 13,000 students are based at the £350m Waterside Campus on a site by the River Nene, which opened in September.

The university spokesman said: "[It] has concentrated thousands of people closer to the centre of Northampton and as such would have created additional strain upon the police at a time when central funding to officers is reducing.

"Rather than allow the taxpayer to bear the brunt of cost and limited resources, the university made a commitment to fund a team which would add to the police presence in the town rather than stretch it further."

Image copyrightUniversity of NorthamptonshireImage caption
Sgt Lorna Clarke (right) is in charge of the team